Expansion joint sealing filler



Patented Mar. 27, 1951 EXPANSIGN JOINT SEALING FILLER Paul Sussenbach, St. Louis, MO., assignor to The Prcsstitc Engineering Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri No Drawing. Application August 14, 1948, Serial No. 44,410

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to expansion joint sealing fillers and, more particularly, to fillers of this class particularly adapted for use in sealing expansion joints in concrete construction.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a filler composition particularly for sealing expansion joints in concrete pavement construction and the like which may be mixed and applied cold; the provision of an internally-setting filler of the class described having such a consistency when first mixed that it may be applied as by pumping into joints to be sealed and which sets up into a resilient and adhesive composition capable of sealing the joints throughout the range of temperatures to which the joints are subjected; the provision of a filler of this class which, when set,

is resilient and adhesive even at low temperatures sion joints in concrete construction even when the concrete is wet. Other objects will be in 7 part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the ingredients and combinations of ingredients, the proportions thereof, and features of composition, which will. be exemplified in the products hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application entitled Asphaltic Cement, Serial No. 686,953, filed July 29, 1946 and now abandoned.

This invention has for its purpose the provision of a filler for sealing expansion joints in concrete construction which may be mixed and applied cold while meeting the requirements of specifications for a hot-poured filler such as defined in Federal specification SS-F-336a, dated May 19, Generally, such specifications require the filler to be a resilient and adhesive composition which is capable of effectively sealing joints in concrete against the infiltration of moisture throughout repeated cycles of expansion and contraction, and which will not flow from the joint or, Where used in highway construction, be picked up by vehicle tires at summer temperatures. The filler in a joint must remain resilient and adhesive throughout the range of atmospheric tem-' extremely strong bond between the joint surfaces.

The filler may be applied at any temperature, even during the winter at temperatures below freezing, and has the marked advantage that it may be applied while the concrete is still wet without any adverse affects upon its bond'to the concrete.

The filler comprises a dry component and a liquid component which are mixed cold on the job to'a consistency suitable for application to a joint by pumping or other methods. The dry component is in bulk form and comprises generally a mixture of a comminutedfor pulverized hard asphalt, such gilsonite, and fibrous material, such as asbestos fibres. The latter is provided to enhance the tensile strength of the ultimate filler. Other filler materials may be added. The liquid component generally comprises a mixture of an oil, a rubber (either natural or synthetic or a mixture of the two) and a steam refined asphalt. The oil used must be compatible with the hard asphalt ingredient of the dry mix, i. e., it must be capable of blending with the hard asphalt without separation or reaction to soften the hard asphalt, and also-of such characteristics as to plasticize the rubber ingredient of the liquid mix. It must also be substantially non-volatile at temperatures below the highest temperature to which the filler may be subjected when in the joint to avoid drying, and have a low pour point to enable the filler to be mixed and applied at low temperatures.

Specific examples of suitable dry and liquid components are as follows:

Dry mix component Asbestos floats are .fine powder-like tailings from the processing of asbestos to obtain fibre.

GR-S rubber is a copclymer of butadiene and styrene.

With respect to the ingredients of the dry component, gilsonite is exemplary or a hard asphaltwhich may be pulverized and-which has a melting point in excess of the highest temperature to which the filler may be subjected in they joint by reason of summer temperatures. It is. contemplated that other hard asphalts capable of being pulverized and having such meltingpoint, preierably above 259 F., may be used. The proportion of the hard asphalt ingredient of the dry component may range from. 2.5% to 66% by weight. The asbestos fibre, or other similar fibrous. material, is an essential ingredient and may range inproportion from to Inclusion of asbestos floatsls important for best re.- sults, although this ingredient may be omitted. The floats may range in proportion from 0% up to%. The asbestos floats, limestone dust and diatomaceous earth ingredients are simply filling materiaisand may be omitted, or other inert fillers may be substituted therefor. The limestone dust may range in proportion from0% up to and the diatomaceous earth from 0% up to 10%. The ingredients of the dry component are mixed together dry to disperse the hard asphalt particles throughout the other ingredients. It willbe' understood that the proportion of the hard asphalt is such as to provide a sufiicient' amount for such dispersal.

With respect to the ingredients of theliquid n1ix,.the oil used .is distinguished by its physical characteristics in respect to its compatability with the hard asp-halt ingredient of the dry component its ability to plasticizethe rubber ingredient of the liquid component. The most desirable oils are mineral oils having a pour point below "0 .32, an aniline point below 110 a Saybolt Universal viscosity 160 F. below. 100, and afiash point '(C'. 0. Cl) above 300 I have found that commercial mineral oils such as are refined for use in lubricating refrigeration machinery, Where the oil is subject to relatively low temperatures, are satisfactory. Mineral oils having a. pour point below 0 Pi, an aniline point below 140 F., a'saybolt viscosity 100 F. below 360, and a fiash point (C. O. C.) above 250 F. are acceptable. The aniline point'of the oil is a measure of its ccinpatability with theihardasphalt. The proportion of the oil ingredient of the liquid component may range from 42% to 79% by Weight, as long as the amount of oil is sufficient to blend with the hard asphalt of the dry component.

Thestearn refined asphalt ingredient of the liquid component is a soft, ductile and adhesive material obtained by steam refining petroleum asphalt. It preferably should have a melting point (ball and ring) below 150 a penetration 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of 20 cms. or above, and a ductility 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of oms. or

It may range in proportion from 5% to rubber is preferred. Natural rubber may be used, or a mixture of GR-S rubber and natural rubber. It is contemplated that other elastomers which are miscible with the asphalt ingredients of the composition may be used. The elastomer ingredient of the mix has been found to improve the consistency of the filler after initial mixing of the dry and liquid componentsand before setting, and-also-markedly toiinproveithe resistance of the filler to slum or flow to enable it to meet the non-flow requirements of the above-mentioned Federal specifications. The rubber is pre pared-for use in the liquid mix by milling it and dispersing. itin the oil ingredient which acts asa plasticizerfor the rubber.

The dry and liquid components are supplied in separate receptacles to the location where joints are to-be-poured; and mixed cold on the job in such proportions as to obtain a semi-liquid viscons: consistency suitable for pumping into the joints. Suitable proportions for the specific dry and. liquid components above. described. are 51 partsof dry material to. 39 parts. of liquid by weight (5'7 dry, 13% liquid). Itwill boundarstood that the. proportion of dry componentto liquid vary in accordance with variations in the proportions of the. respective ingredients of the. components. The proportion of dry component to liquid may also be varied to vary the ponents ispumped or otherwise suitably applied in .the open joint. It sets in the'joint by internal action. as the oil is taken up by the particles of hardasphalhandforms a resilient and adhesive material strongly bonded to the joint surfaces, which remains. resilient and. adhesive through outv repeated cycles. of joint expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. This is because-the oilingredient of the composition is substantially non-volatile even at the highest summer temperatures to which the composition is subjected in the. joint, and-theset filler accordingly does not dry out and harden. Further.- more, the set filler will not flow out of the joint evenat high temperatures. Thus, it is highly suitable for use in inclined joints, as, for example, joints in superelevated highway curves. The filler may be effectively mixed and applied even at low winter temperatures, for example 0? R, since the oil ingredient has a low pour point'and Will stil flow at'suchtemperatures. remarkable property of the filler of this invention is its adaptability for application to joints in concrete construction even while the concrete-is. still wet, without'any adverse-efiectupon its bond to the joint surfaces. This enables the joints to be sealed shortly after the concrete has been poured, after it has attained its initial'set for example,

' andthus enables a jointssealing, job to becompleted'quickly without waiting for/the concrete todry.

In view of. the above, it will beseenthat the several. objects of the invention are achieved and other: advantageous results'attained.

As many changes could be madein the above products without departing irornthe scope-:ofthe invention, it is intendedithat all matter, contained in. the above description. shall be interpreted i as illustrative and" not in a. limiting: sense:

I claim: 1 I

1. An internal-setting asphaltic filler adapted for cold application to seal expansion joints, comprising a mixture of a dry component comprising comminuted hard asphalt dispersed throughout fibrous material, and a liquid component comprising a soft, ductile and adhesive asphalt, a rubber which is miscible with the hard asphalt, and an oil which is compatible with the hard asphalt and which is adapted to plastioize the rubber ingredient, said oil being substantially nonvolatile at temperatures below the highest summer temperature to which it may be subjected in a joint and which will pour at winter ternperatures, and being in amount sufhcient to blend with the hard asphalt of the dry component, said dry and liquid components being mixed in such proportions that ti e initial mixture even when cold has a readily workable semi-liquid consistency suitable for application to a joint and which sets internally to form a resilient and adhesive joint-sealing material.

2. An internal asphaltic filler adapted for cold J application to seal expansion joints, comprising a mixture of a dry component comprising a comviscosity 100 F. below 300 and a flash point (C. O. C.) above 250 and being in amount sufiicient to blend with the hard asphalt of the dry component, said dry and liquid components being mixed in such proportions that the initial mixture even when cold has a readily workable semi-liquid consistency suitable for application to a joint and which sets internally to form a resilient and adhesive joint-sealing material.

3. An internal-setting asphaltic filler adapted for cold application to seal expansion joints, comprising a mixture of a dry component comprising comminuted gilsonite dispersed throughout asbestos fibres, and a liquid component comprising a steam refined petroleum asphalt having a melting point (ball and ring) below 150 F., a penetration 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least cms., and a ductility 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least 60 01113., a synthetic rubber comprising a copolymer of butadiene and styrene, and a mineral oil which is compatible with gilsonite and which is adapted to plasticize said synthetic rubber, said oil having a pour point below 0 F., an aniline point below 140 a Saybolt Universal viscosity 100 5. below 300 and a flash point (C. O. C.) above 250 FL, and being in amount suincient to blend with the hard asphalt of the dry component, said dry and liquid components being mixed in such proportions that the initial mixture even when cold has a readily workable semiliquid consistency suitable for application to a joint and which sets internall to form a resilient and adhesive joint-sealing material.

4. An internal-setting asphaltic filler adapted for cold application to seal expansion joints, comprising a mixture of a dry component comprising by weight of from to 60% comminuted gilsonite, from 5% to 25% asbestos fibre, up to asbestos floats, and up to 30% filling materials, and a liquid component comprising by weight from 5% to steam refined petroleum asphalt having a melting point (ball and ring): below 150 F., a penetration 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least 20 cms., and a ductility 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least cms.,t from 1% to 15% of a synthetic rubber comprising a copolymer of butadiene and styrene, and from 42% to 79% of a mineral oil which is compatible with the gilsonite and which is adapted'to plasticize said synthetic rubber, said oil havinga pour point below 0 F., an aniline point below 140 F., a Saybolt Universal viscosity F. below 300, and a flash point (C. O. C.) above 250 F., said dry and liquid components being mixed in such proportions that the initial mixture evn when cold has a readily workable semi-liquid consistency suitable for application to a joint and which sets internally to form a resilient and adhesive jointsealing material.

5. An internal-setting asphaltic filler adapted for cold application to seal expansion joints, com-' prising a mixture or" a dry component comprising by weight approximately 419% comminuted gilsonite, 18% asbestos fibre, 20% asbestos floats, and 13% filling materials, and ai liquid component comprising by weight approximately 30% steam refined petroleum asphalt having a melting point (ball and ring) below 150 F., a penetration 77 F. (A. S. T..l /I..) of at least 20 cms., and a ductility 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least 60 cms., 3% of a synthetic rubber comprising a copolymer of butadiene and styrene, and 67% of a mineral oil which is compatible with the gilsonite and which is adapted to plasticize said synthetic rubber, said oil having a pour point below 20 R, an aniline point below F., a Saybolt Universal viscosity 100 F. below 100, and a flash point (C. O. C.) above 300" said dry and liquid components being mixed approximately in the proportions of 51 parts of-dry component to 39 parts of liquid component by weight.

6. A liquid composition for additionto a dry mixture of a comminuted hard asphalt and fibrous material to form an internal-setting asphaltic filler for cold application toseal exwith the soft asphalt and rubber to form a liquid.

7. A liquid composition. for addition to a dry mixture of a comminuted hard asphalt and fibrous material to form an internal-setting asphaltic filler for cold application to seal expansion joints consisting essentially of ,a mixture of a substantial proportion of steam refined petroleum asphalt, a relatively small proportion of a rubber which is miscible with hard asphalt, and a substantial proportion of a mineral oil which is compatible with hard asphalt and which is adapted to plasticize the rubber, said oil having a pour point below 0 R, an aniline point below F., a Saybolt Universal viscosity 100 F. below 300 and a flash point (C. 0-. C.) above 250 F.

8. A liquid composition for addition to a dry mixture of comminuted gilsonite and asbestos fibres to form an internal-setting asphaltic filler for cold application to seal expansion'joints, consisting essentially of a mixture by Weight of from 7. to 35% steam refined petroleum a'sphait having'a melting point (ball and ring) below 150 E, a'p'enetr'ation 77 (A. S. T; M.) of atleast 20 cm... and a ductility 77 F. (A. S. T; M.) of at least 60cms., from-1% to oi a synthetic rubber comprising acopolymer of butadiene and styrene, and from 42% to 79% of &'2I'li'i1l'3.1'0l1 which is compatible with gilsonite and adapted to plasticize said synthetic rubber, said oil having a pour point below 0 FE, an aniline point below 140 F., a Saybolt Universal viscosity 100 below 300 and a flash point (C. 0-. C.) above 250 F.

9. A liquid composition for addition to a dry mixture or" comminuted gilsonite and asbestos fibres to form an internal-setting asphaltic filler for cold application to seal expansion joints, consisting essentially of a mixture by wei ht of approximately 30% steam refined petroleum asphalt having a melting point (ball ring) below 150 F'., a penetration 77 F. (A. S. I. M.) of at least cms., and a duc'tilit' 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least Silence, 3% of a synthetic rubber comprising a copolyiner oi butadiene and styrene, and 67% of a mineral oil which is com" patible with gilsonite and adapted to plasticize said synthetic rubber, said oil having'a pour point below -20 R, an aniline point below 110 F., a Saybolt Universal viscosity 100 F. below 100 and a flash point (C. O. C.) above 300 F.

10. An internal-setting asphaltic filler adapted for cold application to seal expansion joints; com:- prising a mixture of a dry component comprising comminuted hard asphalt dispersed throughout fibrous material, and a liquid component com prising a soft, ductile and adhesive asphalt, a rub her which is miscible with the hard asphalt, and an oil which is compatible with the hard asphalt and which is adapted to plasticize the rubber ingredient, said oil beingsubstantially non-volatile at temperatures below the highest summer temperature to which it may be subj ecte-d in a joint and which will pour at-winter temperatures, and being in amount sufficient to blend with the hard asphalt of the dry component, said dry and liquid components being mixed approximately in the proportions of 51 parts of dry component to 39 parts of liquid component by weight.

11. An internal asphaltic filler adapted for cold 7 application to seal expansion joints, comprising a mixture of a dry component comprising a comminuted hard asphalt having a melting. point above 250 F. dispersed throughout fibrous material, and a liquid component comprising steam refined petroleum asphalt, a rubber which is mis- 5 amount suflicient to blend with the hard asphalt of the dry component, said dry and liquid components being mixed approximately in the pro portions of 51 parts of dry component to 39 parts of liquidcomponent by weightg I 12. An internal-setting asphaltic filler adapted for cold application to seal expansion joints, comprising a mixture of a dry component comprising comminuted gilsonite dispersed throughout asbestos fibres, and a liquid component comprising a steam refined petroleum asphalt having a melting point (ball and ring) below 150 F., a penetration 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least 20 cms., and a ductility 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least 60 cms., a synthetic rubber comprising a oopolymer of butadiene and styrene, and a mineral oil which is compatible with gilsonite and which is adapted to plasticize said synthetic rubber, said oil having a pour point below 0 F., an aniline point below 140 F., a Saybolt Universal viscosity 100 F. below 300 and a flash point (C. O. C.) above 250 F., and being in amount sufiicient to blend with the hard asphalt of the dry component, said dry and liquid components being mixed approximately in the proportions of 51 parts of dry component to 39 parts of liquid component by weight.

13. An internal-setting asphaltic filler adapted for cold application to seal expansion joints, comprising a mixture of a dry component comprising by weight of from to 60% comminuted gilsonite, from 5% to 25% asbestos fibre, up to asbestos floats, and up to 30% filling mate rials, and a liquid component comprising by weight from 5% to steam refined petroleum asphalt having a melting point (ball and ring) below 150 F., a penetration 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least 20 cms, and a ductility 77 F. (A. S. T. M.) of at least cms, from 1% to 15% of a synthetic rubber comprising a copolynerv of butadiene and styrene, andv from 42% to 79% of a mineral oil which is compatible with the gilsonite and which is adapted to plasticize said synthetic rubber, said oil having a pour point below 0 F., an aniline point below 140 F., a Saybolt Universay viscosity F. below 300, and a flash point (0. O. C.) above 250 said dry and liquid components being mixed approximately in the proportions of 51 parts of dry component to 39 parts of liquid component by weight.

PAUL SUSSENBACI-I.

REFERENCES @ITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fischer Nov. 25, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Number 

1. AN INTERNAL-SETTING ASPHALTIC FILLER ADAPTED FOR COLD APPLICATION TO SEAL EXPANSION JOINTS, COMPRISING A MIXTURE OF A DRY COMPONENT COMPRISING COMMINUTED HARD ASPHALT DISPERSED THROUGHOUT FIBROUS MATERIAL, AND A LIQUID COMPONENT COMPRISING A SOFT, DUCTILE AND ADHESIVE ASPHALT, A RUBBER WHICH IS MISCIBLE WITH THE HARD ASPHALT, AND AN OIL WHICH IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE HARD ASPHALT AND WHICH IS ADAPTED TO PLASTICIZE THE RUBBER INGREDIENT, SAID OIL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY NONVOLATILE AT TEMPERATURES BELOW THE HIGHEST SUMMER TEMPERATURE TO WHICH IT MAY BE SUBJECTED IN A JOINT AND WHICH WILL POUR AT WINTER TEMPERATURES, AND BEING IN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO BLEND WITH THE HARD ASPHALT OF THE DRY COMPONENT, SAID DRY AND LIQUID COMPONENTS BEING MIXED IN SUCH PROPORTIONS THAT THE INITIAL MIXTURE EVEN WHEN COLD HAS A READILY WORKABLE SEMI-LIQUID CONSISTENCY SUITABLE FOR APPLICATION TO A JOINT AND WHICH SETS INTERNALLY TO FORM A RESILIENT AND ADHESIVE JOINT-SEALING MATERIAL. 